Monday, August 11, 2008

I almost did not make it Live on Blog!

The day started on a worrying note for me. I was kept under observation at Ampang Puteri after I stepped onto a colony of red ants while clearing the clogged drain at our backyard. There was an allergic whole body reaction, including swellings on my face. Intan quickly told me to go to the hospital. My blood pressure shot up like crazy.

The doctor even suggested that I be warded. "It's good you came immediately...you don't take allergy reactions for granted," he remarked.

"Oh no...I must take care of the kids! My maid is gone, seeking greener pastures and I need to take care of the kids while Intan goes to school!" I thought to myself.

To help reduce the swelling and itching, the nurse administered Chlorphenamine, a form of antihistamines used as treatment for allergies. I never knew I had allergies, but I could recall suffering from shingles after getting swarmed by again, red ants at the Masjid Jamek in Kuala Lumpur while still in school!

After two hours, the doctor told me I could go home. About that time, I saw Datuk Fauzi Omar accompanying his son at the emergency room.

"Eh, what happened to you? Fancy meeting you here!"

"Yeah la, of all places...Allergic lah Datuk...I was attacked by a colony of red ants and my whole body was itching and swelling."

Hours later, I was at Wisma TV Angkasapuri as a guest of Blog, where a number of prominent bloggers had had their 15 minutes of fame, prime time on national TV, including my ex-bosses AKJ and Rocky, Nuraina Samad, RPK and Joe Lee (klubbkidd.blogdrive.com).

I don't consider myself as a prominent blogger. I blog just to post my own thoughts on issues concerning sports. My being there was simply because the Olympics in Beijing is in full swing.

I said among other things, I did not agree with the RM1 million incentives for a gold medal, that sports is being politicised and football should set a realistic target of excelling at South East Asia only until the basics are rectified at grassroots level.

I also stated my opinion that Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said's decision to split the National Sports Council (NSC) and the National Sports Institute (ISN) was a political move.

The poll indicated that 66 percent of the viewers did not agree with the RM1 million cash reward for a gold in the Olympics

Once Tan Sri Elyas Omar told me in private "Rizal, for someone who looks like a kampung boy, your English is not too bad". Thank you Tan Sri. I am a kampung boy at heart, in mind, and in appearance.

Hasshim Abu Hanifah raised several interesting issues...but some of the feedback I got was less than encouraging. They said I failed to seize the moment! Some said I did well. OK lah...little did Hasshim and others know I almost missed the moment entirely!

Sitting on the same bench with AKJ, Rocky, Nuraina and RPK means you are "a force to be reckoned with" in the blogworld despite being a new kid on the block. Congrats! As your Pak Ndak, I am proud of you.

In the meantime, take care of yourself. Anyway, Mak Ndak also had the same body itching (but not swelling)after doing some gardening over the weekend. She's seeing the doctor now.

I'm now back in Puncak Alam after three days in Permatang Pauh. Will be going there again on Friday to Monday. Meeting Rocky tomorrow for lunch.

Bro, i was flipping thru the channels hoping to catch the olympic coverage, but i saw u on tv pulak. U did ok la....i was hoping u'll dwell more into the splitting of MSN & ISN and also talk about my best pal Azalina...she squandered a lot of MSN's money...it seems like a good platform to expose that. referring to anon 6;40pm...if MSN is under ISN....we'll be in trouble. ISN does not have a strong leadership at all...

Intresting comment about Azalina splitting ISN & MSN. In the first place MSN should be under ISN then we will have professionals running sports development in the country....-----------------------------------

ISN n MSN should work hand to hand to serve the athlete and coaches not dictating who much more professional and powerfull. Without MSN, ISN will not exist. and without ISN how MSN can success producing athletes. They must co-exist in very professional evironment.

Sometimes i wonder why this thing never happen during Dato MAzlan era.

Anon 10:32am, you are absolutely correct. MSN & ISN need to work hand in hand. MSN to provide admin support, while ISN to provide sports science support. I'm sure a majority of staff from MSN & ISN feel this way too, but somehow, this is not happening...why is that?Anon 8:16am, the reason for high staff turn over is because the welfare of the staff is not taken care off. A majority of them are underpaid, overworked and neglected by the so called 'leadership' or lack of leadership!cam mane nak servis atlet?

About Me

Freelance journo, self-proclaimed football expert, sports critic. Used to be on the payroll of Berita Harian and the Malay Mail. Byline has appeared in Berita Harian, Harian Metro, New Straits Times, Malay Mail, Kosmo, Footballasia, France Football, Agence France Presse. Malaysian Press Institute's Sportswriter of the Year 2005 (English category), Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup 2007-Sportswriters Association of Malaysia contest Grand Prize winner. Former Sportswriters Association of Malaysia secretary, has completed the Grand Slam - having covered the SEA Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. Editor of the now defunct football weekly pullout with Kosmo, Rembat, which loosely means "Kick" and host of Malaysia's first hard-talk show on sports - Dengan Izin (If I may). Jury of FIFA Ballon d'Or since 2010. Currently columnist for FourFourTwo Malaysia and editor of Arena E Mag, the digital magazine published by Astro Digital Publications Sdn Bhd

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Disclaimer

The content of this blog is provided for information purposes only. The views expressed in the comments section do not necessarily reflect those of the blog author. Nevertheless, as we move towards becoming a fully developed nation, let us be tolerant to dissenting views. After all, it's only sports. Majulah sukan untuk negara.